Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash: Surface-to-air missile was used to down the plane, says Hishammuddin Hussein

KUALA LUMPUR: Military intelligence and debris from the crashed MH17 flight indicate that it was a surface-to-air missile that was used to shoot down the plane, Malaysia's Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

"It was a surface-to-air missile, and such a system could either be available to the Ukrainians or rebel forces," Hishammuddin was quoted as saying by the Malaysian Star.

Hishamuddin's remarks were based on military intelligence and from investigating the remains of MH17.

It was earlier reported that certain intelligence analysts had concluded that the plane was shot down by an air-to-air missile, and that the Ukrainian government had something to do with it.

The Boeing 777 came down with 298 people, including 43 Malaysians, onboard in a separatist-held region of Ukraine, with the United States claiming it was shot down in a missile attack, a possible casualty of the Kiev government's battle with pro-Russia rebels.

The disaster has deeply shocked Malaysia, which is still grappling with the trauma of the March 8 disappearance of MH370 with 239 passengers and crew aboard, including 38 Malaysians.